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Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)

Using Miles and Points to Save on a Family Trip to Las Vegas

May 4, 2017
by
Go to Travel Gal Go to Travel Gal

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We flew Southwest to Las Vegas entirely on points. And saved money by taking advantage of free or discounted activities.

My Family Enjoyed Hiking in Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park by Way of Las Vegas Over Spring Break

I’ll share the family side of Vegas and show you how to save when traveling to Sin City.

How to Save Money on a Family Trip to Las Vegas

Our 2 boys are in elementary school and middle school. So we wanted to experience Las Vegas in as family-friendly a way as possible (and it’s not entirely possible in Las Vegas, unfortunately – be ready to have kids cover their eyes!).

It’s easy to drop plenty of cash in Las Vegas if you’re not careful, but you can have a ton of fun simply enjoying the sites – at no cost – in what I like to call “adult Disney World.”

From airfare to hotels to activities, it is possible to enjoy Big Travel with Small Money in Las Vegas!

You can also book a stay through the Citi Prestige concierge and get your 4th night free. Beginning July 23, 2017, however, Citi Prestige will no longer refund the actual cost of the 4th night but the average nightly cost of your stay instead. They also will no longer refund taxes.

We Stayed at Delano Las Vegas, a Boutique Hotel That Offered a Quiet Respite From Las Vegas

Delano was the perfect choice for us, because it was quiet, upscale, and convenient to Mandalay Bay. Mandalay Bay is noisier and busier, but has more activities. I loved having this peaceful respite from the craziness of Vegas, and it kept my kids from having to witness more craziness than I would prefer. 🙂

Delano is connected to Mandalay Bay, which has one of the best pools in the city with a full wave pool and lazy river that my kids loved! And there are tons of restaurants, like the hip Libertine Social (try the award-winning Caviar Fried Egg and have them mix you a Bardstown Sling), the Shark Reef Aquarium (wonderfully themed as the ruins of an ancient temple), and shows.

The Lazy River at Mandalay Bay Is a Great Activity for Families!

Other options for families include New York, New York, which has a giant arcade, as well as The Big Apple Coaster that adventurous kids will love. Or check out Excalibur (what kid wouldn’t want to stay in a giant castle!?) also with a huge arcade just below the casino, or Treasure Island with a pirate / Caribbean theme.

3. MGM Resorts International M life

MGM Resorts International, which owns numerous hotels in Las Vegas, has a loyalty program calledM lifethat allows you to earn points for game play, hotel stays, dining and more.

You can then redeem these points, which are worth 1 cent each, to play games free and for hotel stays, dining, entertainment, and special perks. The program offers varying tier levels, which offer different benefits and which you climb up as you collect points.

Collect M Life Points and Redeem Them for Stays, Games, Dining, and Perks at MGM Resorts

4. Affordable Activities

You could spend a boatload on activities in Las Vegas or you could just focus on all the free stuff there is to do. That will keep you plenty busy!

Enjoy the View From the Top of the Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris Las Vegas With the Go Las Vegas Card

If you want to see and do some of the attractions, I suggest multi-attraction passes like the Go Las Vegas Card, which saves you tons by purchasing tickets all at once instead of individually. These passes, which you show at each attraction via your mobile device instead of paper tickets, also let you bypass long ticket lines and go straight into the attraction.

Opened in spring 2016, The Park Las Vegas, which is right next to New York, New York, is an open space with greenery, shops, and restaurants. For an inexpensive and fun lunch, try Beerhaus at The Park, which offers crazy brews like the Banger Morning Joe with coffee, yummy pretzels, as well as games like Connect Four and Battleship, which you can play at your table.

5. Getting Around Town

One of the more confusing parts of Las Vegas is getting around. Trust me, your feet can’t handle walking from one end of the strip to the other with all the stops in between.

Of course, Uber or Lyft drivers are also in abundance, but you’ll need to find the designated areas at each hotel where they are allowed to collect you (keep a look out for these signs). Because they cannot just stop and pick you up right on Las Vegas Boulevard (that would be a traffic nightmare)!

Westley Stevens of The Commodores and The Stylistics Fame Was Our Uber Driver in Vegas and Said He Was Driving Uber For 1 Week For Fun! Only in Vegas!

Bottom Line

Las Vegas is a bucket list destination for many folks, and can be a kid-friendly option for families. Skip the gambling and enjoy PG-rated activities like roller coasters, arcades, and amazing pools.

You can save money on a family trip to Las Vegas by flying on Southwest points and taking advantage of programs like M life and the Go Las Vegas card for additional savings.

Use hotel loyalty points to book a stay Las Vegas hotels, and earn more points by paying for expenses with a credit card that earns extra for hotels, travel, and entertainment!

Note: Some accommodations, meals, and activities were provided to us at no cost in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)

5comments

That man you met Westley Stevens is not who says he is. He is still driving uber a year later and told us it was his first and only day as they would be filming him for an Uber commercial. When we asked why his uber profile said Howard when he was claiming his name was Westley Stevens he said because he uses an alias the same way Lionel Ritchie and Mike Tyson do when they drive uber as well!!! Yes, this man told us Lionel Ritchie and Mike Tyson are Uber drivers??? We researched it and can find no record of him being neither a Commodore not a Stylistic. This man is a sham. We confronted him about his lies while We were exiting the Uber and he became angry. Sorry to say you were duped by this com artist as were we in the beginning.

Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)